Coming Soon....The Future!

We are shaping it today: the future. We listen. We watch. We assess. And we will decide, which leaders will listen, assess, and decide. The future is coming soon, and it is being decided now.

Why did Campaign 2016 start so soon?

Right now we already have many candidates to consider, and the field of Democrats is not even settled.

If a person is serious about putting forth their ideas, this is the time. And, if the candidate's ideas matter to you as a voter, this is the time to start seriously examining those ideas.

The question has been raised about each candidate's style of interacting with their competitors and their audiences. Now is the time to assess what that means in terms of being able to present and act on their ideas.

How does each candidate perform in terms of leading their followers, organizing their campaign staff. If he or she just uses money to get the job done by paying their key players. is that an indication of how they will handle the country's problems, if they are elected?

What is the quality of the public figures who are already supporting each candidate? While we want to form our own opinions, we can gain some understanding from what support each candidate receives from public figures we already respect. The old saying is that "you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep."

If a candidate has management experience, what does that experience show? Voters will choose someone to manage the federal government. Does their experience indicate that they can lead and manage something that large and do so effectively?

Will the candidates surround themselves with advisers who will only tell them what they already want to hear, or will they listen to a broad spectrum of advice and then make the best decision for solving serious problems. Do they demonstrate that quality by accepting sound advice related to their current efforts?

Does the candidate appear to have high personal standards when it comes to their basic beliefs and values, or are they prone to be impulsive and erratic?

Is the candidate simply saying what they think the public wants to hear, or do they express what they think voters need to know about them and about their ideas?

The future is coming soon. Much will depend on who leads this country into that future. If they are a serious candidate, they should have sound ideas by now as to how they want to lead us, and where their leadership should be taking us.

Can you respect and trust the candidate to do the right thing? If not, keep looking until you find a candidate you can respect and trust. A lot depends on your search.

8 comments

Good advice Demas. this is an interesting presidential election, but I am glad I am outside looking in. Hopefuly the people make a wise decision and whoever wins really does make a difference for a better future for your country.

annart 14 months ago from SW England

Your title got me straight away!

Though your particular election doesn't concern me as a voter, the thoughts in your hub do concern me as a voter in Britain. The same thing applies.

The whole problem is that people either can't be bothered to find out, or don't know how to, about each candidate's crudentials. They do their best to hoodwink us in what is often just a bid for power and popularity, never mind the values, that many just follow the one who sounds the best. After all, it's only for five years. So much can happen in 5 days, let alone years. When will people learn that we have to exercise some intelligence here, some discrimination, some thought?

Good hub, good advice. Sharing.

Ann

RTalloni 14 months ago from the short journey

Good questions help us make good decisions about any issue. When we need to make an important decision it really is time to step back and ask as many questions as possible.

Perspycacious 14 months ago from Today's America and The World Beyond Author

I am concerned that many of my countrymen view elections as political theater. Thus the most entertaining candidates gain some popularity and lead the pack.

RTalloni stated the obvious in saying "When we need to make an important decision it really is time to step back and ask as many questions as possible."

annart asked the unanswered question: "When will people learn that we have to exercise some intelligence here, some discrimination, some thought?" At this point that question remains unanswered.

Jodah gave the reason why exercising some intelligence in voting is so important, namely that doing so can " make a difference for a better future."

At this time in the world's history, who governs as president in America can have immediate and lasting effects around the world from Korea to South Africa, Finland to Brazil. So wherever you are, pray for us to exercise "some intelligence."

MizBejabbers 14 months ago

Yes, we need to exercise some intelligence. Just because a candidate was a good businessman doesn't mean he/she can run a government. There's a big difference. My state elected as governor in 1978 a man who bragged he "would run this state like a bidness." We couldn't vote him out fast enough in 1980 because a government can't be run like a private business. Let's exercise some intelligence here.

We elected a preacher several years later because the Baptists rule. He stepped on more toes through his religion than any nonreligious governor would have. Now he is running for President. Let's exercise some intelligence here.

We have a couple of people running because they are not politicians. All their knowledge and experience comes from academia. The fact that they are nice guys doesn't mean a hill of beans. Nice guys have a tendency to not be able to make tough decisions. Let' exercise some intelligence here.

Some are running that the public thinks shouldn't be elected because they are funded by big political machines. Perhaps this is true, but let's exercise some intelligence here and not rule them out just because of that fact.

Some candidates will lose votes because people just don't like them personally. Hey, I would vote for my worst enemy if he or she could run this country better than anybody else. Let's use some intelligence here.

Perspycacious 14 months ago from Today's America and The World Beyond Author

MizB - That's the kind of "open thinking," scrutiny, and exercise of "some intelligence" we need.

Certainly there are other "categories" (male/female, youthful/older, dark/light, rich/poor, etc.) that do not have a direct relationship to leadership qualities and the kind of "smarts" and empathy that we might like to see in our leaders for the 21st Century.

There are already all kinds of "disqualifiers" that deprive us of some potential leaders, while the "kingmakers" have perfected ways they hope will limit the field of candidates to those that meet their approval.

MsDora 14 months ago from The Caribbean

Good questions for consideration, and good counsel. Thank you.

Perspycacious 14 months ago from Today's America and The World Beyond Author